Adoptive Families

Celebrating Adoptive and Foster Families: a list of books for kids

Here are some books featuring families that have grown through adoption and/or foster care. Domestic and international, fiction and nonfiction, human and nonhuman, adoption from birth and new homes for older kids. There's a section for stories, a section for books celebrating families in general, and a list of links to further resources. The lists are by no means comprehensive, and there are links to other lists below; we'll keep updating as we add to our knowledge and collections. Compiled by Jennifer Sheffield and Elliott batTzedek, latest update 7/9/17

Picture Books about adoption and fostering

A Mother for Choco by Keiko Kasza (1992)Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born by Jamie Lee Curtis, illustrated by Laura Cornell (1996)The Day We Met You by Phoebe Koehler (1997)Over the Moon: An Adoption Tale by Karen Katz (1997)It's Okay to Be Different by Todd Parr (2001)Emma's Yucky Brother by Jean Little, illustrated by Jennifer Plecas (2002)Felicia's Favorite Story by Lesléa Newman, illustrated by Adriana Romo (2002)And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson & Peter Parnell, illustrated by Henry Cole (2005)Kids Need to Be Safe: A Book for Children in Foster Care by Julie Nelson, PH.D.; illustrated by Mary Gallagher (2005)Owen & Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship told by Isabella Hatkoff, Craig M. Hatkoff, and Paula Kahumbu; photographs by Peter Greste (2006) Bringing Asha Home by Uma Krishnaswami, illustrated by Jamel Akib (2006)Motherbridge of Love by Xinran Xue, illustrated by Josee Masse (2007)We Belong Together: A Book about Adoption and Families by Todd Parr (2007)Murphy's Three Homes: A Story for Children in Foster Care by Jan Levinson Gilman, illustrated by Kathy O'Malley (2008)In Our Mothers' House by Patricia Polacco (2009)[Note: This author's books are generally more appropriate for an older audience than usual for picture books.]Star of the Week: A Story of Love, Adoption, and Brownies with Sprinkles by Darlene Friedman, illustrated by Roger Roth (2009)Sweet Moon Baby: An Adoption Tale by Karen Henry Clark, illustrated by Patrice Barton (2010)Bad Kitty Meets the Baby by Nick Bruel (2011)Wolfie the Bunny by Ame Dyckman, illustrated by Zachariah Ohora (2015)Real Sisters Pretend by Megan Dowd Lambert, illustrated by Nicole Tadgell (2016)My New Mom and Me by Renata Galindo (2016)Quackers by Liz Wong (2016)Home at Last by Vera B. Williams, illustrated by Vera B. Williams and Chris Raschka (2016)

How Families are Formed

All Families Are Special by Norma Simon, illustrated by Teresa Flavin (2003)The Family Book by Todd Parr (2003)The Great Big Book of Families by Mary Hoffman, illustrated by Ros Asquith (2010)What Makes a Baby? by Cory Silverberg, illustrated by Fiona Smyth (2012) [This book separates the genetic/biological components from the emotional component of making a baby, thus allowing for nontraditional families.]Families, Families, Families! by Suzanne Lang & Max Lang (2015)